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<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#000099"><FONT SIZE=+2>From Near-Passivity to
the 'Verse of the Sword'</FONT></FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER>&nbsp;</CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000"><FONT SIZE=+3>~ The Evolution of Jihad
~</FONT></FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">By Abu'l Hasan</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER>&nbsp;</CENTER>

<CENTER><FONT SIZE=-1>(Adapted and summarized from "<I>Al-Jihad wa al-Qital
fi al-Siyasah</I></FONT></CENTER>

<CENTER><FONT SIZE=-1><I>al-Shar`iyyah</I>", by Muhammad Khayr Haykal)</FONT></CENTER>

<CENTER>&nbsp;</CENTER>

<CENTER>&nbsp;</CENTER>

<CENTER>&nbsp;</CENTER>


<P>The call to Islam was pacifistic in the Makkan era. The Muslims used
to gather secretly in order to perform their religious rites and worship
their Lord. This was the case until Allah <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(Subhannah
wa Ta'aala)</FONT></I> revealed, <I><FONT SIZE=-1>(Translation of the Meaning)</FONT></I>,
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER>"<B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">Come out openly with that with which
you are commanded.</FONT></I></B>"</CENTER>

<CENTER><I><FONT SIZE=-1>[15:94]</FONT></I>,</CENTER>


<P>after which many Muslims worshipped in public, and persecution of the
believers intensified.

<P>After the death of Abu Taalib and Khadijah <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(radiallaahu
'anha)</FONT></I>, the Prophet <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(salallaahu 'alayhee
wa sallam)</FONT></I> began to seek assistance from outside Makkah in order
to safeguard the Call. Thus, he used to present Islam to all the leaders
of the tribes, and in addition he would seek assistance from those of them
who possessed such might as could stand up to the adversaries of the Call.
We should remember that Jihad in these times was prohibited. It was obligatory
to refrain from defense maneuvers during the entire Makkan period, whether
the Muslims had the capability to engage in them (as in the latter Makkan
period) or not (as was the case in the early Makkan period). This stance
produced several fruits which exhibit the wisdom of Allah <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(Ta'aala)</FONT></I>,
and among them are the following:

<P><B>1 -</B> The Prophet <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(salallaahu 'alayhee
wa sallam)</FONT></I> being portrayed as a role-model for his followers,
to indicate to them that they must bear the varied forms of torment which
are encountered in the Path of propagation.

<P><B>2 -</B> Feelings of comfort and consolation among the oppressed,
arising from seeing the Prophet <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(salallaahu 'alayhee
wa sallam)</FONT></I> bearing this persecution without retaliating, although
he enjoyed the backing of material support, as well as Divine support from
the Heavens.

<P><B>3 -</B> Development of awareness amongst the pagans of the Muslims'
conviction of the veracity of their Prophet, for were that not the case,
they would not have endured all this oppression and hardship.

<P><B>4 - </B>Evolution of sensations amongst some of the pagans of the
extent of injustice which they were inflicting on the Muslims, resulting
in these individuals' detesting the chiefs of the pagans and detaching
themselves from them

<P><B>5 - </B>Prevention of eruption of the antagonistic situation into
a full-fledged war at a stage when the Muslims did not possess an army.

<P>The form of fighting which was prohibited in this era was the formation
of a combat battalion of Muslims which would take on the disbelievers in
armed confrontation. As for the individual Muslim defending himself while
being beaten by the pagans, it was not forbidden. Rather, it was permissible,
although it was desirable and <I>optimal</I> to refrain even from that.
The evidence for this is the words of Allah <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(Ta'aala)</FONT></I>
in the Makkan Surah, <I>Ash Shura</I> <I><FONT SIZE=-1>(Translation of
the Meaning)</FONT></I>,
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER>"<B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">And those who, when great wrong is
done to them, defend themselves. The recompense of</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">an evil deed is an evil deed like it,
but whoever pardons and amends, his reward is with Allah.</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">Indeed, He loves not the wrongdoers.
And, whoever defends himself after he has suffered wrong,</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">there is no way (of blame) against
him. The way (of blame) is only against those who oppress</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">mankind and cause corruption in the
earth with no right; for them there is a painful punishment.</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">And, as for he who is patient and forgives,
then that, verily, is the steadfast (heart) of things.</FONT></I></B>"</CENTER>

<CENTER><I><FONT SIZE=-1>[42:39-43]</FONT></I></CENTER>


<P>These verses were revealed in Makkah, according to the consensus (<I>ijmaa</I>)
of the scholars.

<P>The evidence that the nature of the prohibition of fighting was as we
have explained, is the words of Allah <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(Ta'aala)</FONT></I>,
<I><FONT SIZE=-1>(Translation of the Meaning)</FONT></I>,
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER>"<B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">Have you not seen those who were told,
'Withhold your hands (from warfare),</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">and establish salah and give zakah.'?
Then, when combat was prescribed for</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">them, behold! A party of them fear
mankind with the fear (due to) Allah,</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">or an even greater fear!</FONT></I></B>"</CENTER>

<CENTER><I><FONT SIZE=-1>[4:77]</FONT></I></CENTER>


<P>Al Wahidi an Naysaburi reports,

<P>"<I><FONT COLOR="#000099">They (the Muslims) used to suffer extreme
persecution at the hands of the pagans, and used to say, '</FONT><FONT COLOR="#990000">O
Messenger of Allah! Give us permission to fight these (people).</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000099">'
But, he would say, '</FONT></I><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">Withhold your hands,
for I have not been commanded to fight them.</FONT></B><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">'</FONT></I>"

<P>Another form of warfare which was prohibited is indicated by Qurtubi's
<I>tafseer</I> (<I>exegesis</I>) of the verse, <I><FONT SIZE=-1>(Translation
of the Meaning)</FONT></I>,
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER>"<B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">Allah defends those who believe. Indeed,
Allah loves</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">not any treacherous ingrate.</FONT></I></B>"</CENTER>

<CENTER><I><FONT SIZE=-1>[22:38]</FONT></I></CENTER>


<P>He said,

<P>"<I><FONT COLOR="#000099">It has been narrated that it was revealed
in circumstances wherein the Muslims had become plentiful in Makkah, and
the pagans were persecuting them, such that some of them emigrated to the
land of Abyssinia. Some of the Makkan believers wanted to kill whomever
they could from among the disbelievers, and to carry out assassinations
and behave treacherously and deceitfully. Then, this verse was revealed...
wherein (Allah), the Flawless promised protection, and forbade treachery
and deceit.</FONT></I>"

<P>The prohibition of combat persisted until the Prophet <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(salallaahu
'alayhee wa sallam)</FONT></I> emigrated to Madinah. Then, during the emigration
journey, Allah <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(Ta'aala)</FONT></I> revealed,
<I><FONT SIZE=-1>(Translation of the Meaning)</FONT></I>,
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER>"<B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">Permission is given to those who fight
because they have been wronged.</FONT></I></B>"</CENTER>

<CENTER><I><FONT SIZE=-1>[22:39]</FONT></I></CENTER>


<P>Ibn 'Abbas <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(radiallaahu 'anhu)</FONT></I> said:

<P>"<I><FONT COLOR="#000099">It is the first verse which was revealed concerning
warfare.</FONT></I><FONT COLOR="#000000">"</FONT>

<P><FONT COLOR="#000000">Thus, Allah </FONT><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(Ta'aala)</FONT></I><FONT COLOR="#000000">
permitted that fighting which had hitherto been prohibited. Then, Allah
</FONT><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(Ta'aala) </FONT></I><FONT COLOR="#000000">ordered
them to fight if they were attacked.</FONT>
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER>"<B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">And fight, in the Path of Allah, those
who fight you, and do not exceed</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">the limits. Indeed, Allah loves not
those who exceed limits.</FONT></I></B>"</CENTER>

<CENTER><I><FONT SIZE=-1>[2:190]</FONT></I></CENTER>


<P>The final stage, which is that wherein the ordinance of Jihad has persisted,
is the obligation of fighting the pagans until they are killed or they
surrender. Allah <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(Ta'aala) </FONT></I>says, <I><FONT SIZE=-1>(Translation
of the Meaning)</FONT></I>,
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER>"<B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">You shall fight them, or they should
submit.</FONT></I></B>"</CENTER>

<CENTER><I><FONT SIZE=-1>[48:16]</FONT></I></CENTER>

<CENTER>&nbsp;</CENTER>

<CENTER>"<B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">Then, when the sacred months are over,
kill the pagans wherever you find them, and seize</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">them, and besiege them, and wait in
every ambush for them. But, if they repent, and establish</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">salah and give zakah, then leave them
to their way.</FONT></I></B>"</CENTER>

<CENTER><I><FONT SIZE=-1>[9:5]</FONT></I></CENTER>


<P>This verse is the famous 'Verse of the Sword', and some have claimed
that it abrogated <I><FONT SIZE=-1>[2:190]</FONT></I>. However, Ibn al
Jawzi has said that there is no abrogation here. Ibn 'Abbas, 'Umar ibn
Abdul 'Aziz and Mujaahid all said that the former verse is <I>decisive</I>,
and has not been abrogated.

<P>Rather, it has been specified to indicate the prohibition of killing
children, women, old men and those who lay down their arms and withhold
their hands (from fighting), and the same was endorsed by Ibn Jareer Tabari.
<BR>&nbsp;
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&nbsp;
<BR><B><I><FONT SIZE=-1>- Formatted and Edited by Abu Suhayb</FONT></I></B>
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